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Biography

Professional Background

Dr. Ronald Billings served in the US Navy (1957-61) and subsequently received his BA (1965), DDS (1969) and MSD (1976) from Indiana University. He received a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health to study cariology at the University of Minnesota from 1976 to 1979.

He has held faculty appointments at Indiana University School of Dentistry (1973-76), University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (1979-80), University of Texas Dental Branch (1980-84) and Eastman Dental Center (1984-97). He directed the Center's Community Outreach and Smilemobile Programs for over ten years and was Acting Chair of the Departments of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Dentistry previous to his appointment as Director of Eastman Dental Center in 1994.

Dr. Billings has served, ex officio, on the Boards of Eastman Dental Center, Eastman Dental Center Foundation, and The University of Rochester Medical Center including its Executive Committee. Dr. Billings is a past member of the Greater Rochester Quality Council and was the recipient of that organization's 1998 Greater Rochester Quality Award. He also was named the recipient of the 1998 Indiana University School of Dentistry Distinguished Alumni Award. He is Professor of Dentistry Emeritus, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and Director Emeritus, Eastman Dental Center.

Dr. Billings has participated in over 30 federal or commercial research projects over the past 35 years as study coordinator, consultant, co-investigator or principal investigator. He holds a patent jointly with three other investigators for an intra-oral medication releasing system.

Dr. Billings is currently a consultant or co-investigator of various National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research grants to study risk factors associated with the onset and severity of dental caries in children. He has been author or co-author of over 60 publications and abstracts. He has served as a special reviewer of grants and contracts for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and he served on the Institute's special projects and small grants study section.

In addition, Dr. Billings has served on the manuscript review panel of several dental journals, including the Journal of Dental Education, Journal of Dental Research, Journal of the American Dental Association, and Caries Research. He is a past member of the American and International Association for Dental Research, American Dental Education Association, American Dental Association and is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the American College of Dentistry. He is a past member of the Seventh District Board of Directors of the New York State Dental Society and of the New York State Council of Dental Deans.

Dr. Billings is also past president of the Rochester Section of the American Association for Dental Research and of the Cariology Group of the International Association for Dental Research. He is a senior member of the European Organization for Caries Research. He is a member of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and an honorary Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health.

He has taught several courses including restorative dentistry, cariology, preventive dentistry, social issues in dentistry, research design and biostatistics, and oral epidemiology at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. He has been research advisor to over 25 undergraduate and graduate students. Throughout his career, Dr. Billings's area of research interest has mainly revolved around risk factors associated with onset of early childhood caries.

Research

Dr. Ronald Billings served in the US Navy (1957-61) and subsequently received his BA (1965), DDS (1969) and MSD (1976) from Indiana University. He received a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health to study cariology at the University of Minnesota from 1976 to 1979.

He has held faculty appointments at Indiana University School of Dentistry (1973-76), University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (1979-80), University of Texas Dental Branch (1980-84) and Eastman Dental Center (1984-97). He directed the Center's Community Outreach and Smilemobile Programs for over ten years and was Acting Chair of the Departments of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Dentistry previous to his appointment as Director of Eastman Dental Center in 1994.

Dr. Billings has served, ex officio, on the Boards of Eastman Dental Center, Eastman Dental Center Foundation, and The University of Rochester Medical Center including its Executive Committee. Dr. Billings is a past member of the Greater Rochester Quality Council and was the recipient of that organization's 1998 Greater Rochester Quality Award. He also was named the recipient of the 1998 Indiana University School of Dentistry Distinguished Alumni Award. He is Professor of Dentistry Emeritus, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and Director Emeritus, Eastman Dental Center.

Dr. Billings has participated in over 30 federal or commercial research projects over the past 35 years as study coordinator, consultant, co-investigator or principal investigator. He holds a patent jointly with three other investigators for an intra-oral medication releasing system. Dr. Billings is currently a consultant or co-investigator of various National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research grants to study risk factors associated with the onset and severity of dental caries in children.

He has been author or co-author of over 60 publications and abstracts. He has served as a special reviewer of grants and contracts for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and he served on the Institute's special projects and small grants study section.

In addition, Dr. Billings has served on the manuscript review panel of several dental journals, including the Journal of Dental Education, Journal of Dental Research, Journal of the American Dental Association, and Caries Research. He is a past member of the American and International Association for Dental Research, American Dental Education Association, American Dental Association and is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the American College of Dentistry. He is a past member of the Seventh District Board of Directors of the New York State Dental Society and of the New York State Council of Dental Deans. Dr. Billings is also past president of the Rochester Section of the American Association for Dental Research and of the Cariology Group of the International Association for Dental Research. He is a senior member of the European Organization for Caries Research. He is a member of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and an honorary Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health.

He has taught several courses including restorative dentistry, cariology, preventive dentistry, social issues in dentistry, research design and biostatistics, and oral epidemiology at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. He has been research advisor to over 25 undergraduate and graduate students. Throughout his career, Dr. Billings's area of research interest has mainly revolved around risk factors associated with onset of early childhood caries.